The application deadline has been extended to Nov. 21, and all youth have to do to apply is write their first hunt choice preference and two alternate locations on a 3"x5" postcard along with their name, address, phone number and their hunter education number and mail them to OK Dept. of Wildlife Conservation, Youth Waterfowl Hunts PO Box 53465, Oklahoma City, OK 73152. Applications must be received by Nov. 21.

Other than meeting the age requirements, applicants must have proof of successfully completing a certified hunter education course and have an adult guardian who can accompany them on the hunt. Completing the hunter education course is simple, since hunters age 10 and older can take the course and test online, then print their official hunter education card on their home printer when they are finished.

The scheduled date of the hunt will be coordinated with successful applicants after the drawing, and a Wildlife Department employee will accompany each youth and their adult guardian for the controlled waterfowl hunt. Only the youth hunter will be allowed to hunt.

The Wildlife Department will provide successful applicants the necessary nontoxic shotgun shells, and a 20 gauge single shot shotgun will be available for use if the youth does not have his or her own shotgun. For more information, contact Jeff Neal, migratory game bird technician for the Wildlife Department, at (405) 396-2503 or jneal@zoo.odwc.state.ok.us.

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4-Cornerrs Gobblers’ are holding a food drive to gather food and funding for the 2013 Thanksgiving holiday. Penny Veitenheimer, of the organization says the group is an officially registered 501-(c)-3 tax exempt entity and all donations are tax exempt.

The targeted distribution date is Thursday, Nov 21.

She says the chapter has awarded a $500 Jakes/Extreme Jakes scholarship to a local high school senior every year since inception. “Our Jakes/Extreme Jakes Field Days are a wonderful opportunity for area youth, provided by the chapter at no cost for the participants. We have distributed “Boxes for Education” to area schools several times and been involved with the national program that provides seed for members to plant food plots to feed the local wildlife. You can find detailed information on these outreaches on the national website at www.nwtf.org.

4-Cornerrs Gobblers’ 2014 Hunting Heritage banquet and auction is scheduled for Feb. 22, 2014, at the Kelly Haney Center on the campus of Seminole State University. Penny Veitenheimer, of

4-Corners Gobblers. Contact contact any of the above officers for information on the event or any of our other activities. The email contact is pennyv@purelineseed.com

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The Pottawatomie County Extension Office will again be offering the Master Gardener Training Course. The Master Gardener Program is a volunteer organization for the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service.

The classes will begin on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2014. Topics will include research-based information on plant/soil nutrition, entomology, plant disease, weed control, lawn care, safe usage of pesticides and other topics. The program is for anyone with a high-school education or equivalent, and a genuine interest in growing plants.

The eight week program will be presented on Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Attendees will receive approximately 40 hours of training from OSU Extension Educators and State Horticulture Specialists.

Handouts of the programs will be provided. To gain a Master Gardener certification, 40 hours of assistance to the local OSU Extension Horticulture Program is required after attending the class. Hours can be accumulated through community service projects and assisting the Master Gardeners on horticulture projects.

The registration fee is $40, non-refundable with the first half due at sign-up. The balance is due by the first day of class. To prevent the course from being cancelled, at least 15 participants must be enrolled. The maximum number of participants is 22.

Deadline for enrolling is Nov. 29, 2013. Applicants will be taken on a first come, first served basis. Applications are available in the Pottawatomie County OSU Extension Office at 14001 Acme Road, Shawnee, OK. For more information call the Extension Office at 273.7683.

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The Pottawatomie County March of Dimes will continue its fund raising efforts with a spaghetti dinner on Dec. 10 at Tecumseh City Hall. The dinner includes spaghetti with meatballs, salad, bread, drink and dessert.

The dinner will be held from 5 until 7 p.m. Tickets are $6. Tickets may be purchased at Tecumseh Tag Agency, Branson McKiddy Real Estate and No. 9 Auto Sales.

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The Lincoln County OSU Extension Center is hosting an open house on Wednesday, Dec. 4, from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m.

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The annual Downtown Shawnee Christmas Parade will be held on Thursday, Dec. 5, in historic downtown Shawnee. The Parade begins at 6:30 p.m. and will run along its normal Main Street route.

The theme for this year’s Parade is Celebrating Shawnee Heritage and entries should be designed accordingly. The Grand Marshal for this year’s Parade is the Shawnee Public Library.

Entry forms may be picked up at the City Hall Annex Building (222 N. Broadway) and are due on Friday, Nov. 15. There is no entry fee. Please call 878-1665 for questions.

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If you have ideas or something of interest for this column, please call me at 214-3922 or email me at michael.mccormick@news-star.com. Please include your name and a phone number for contact purposes.